Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Review: Surrounded by Woods (Woods Family #1) by Mandy Harbin

When Mikaela Patterson must take on a client with specific requirements that no single women be allowed on his property, she keeps her broken engagement a secret. She doesn’t realize her client and his sons are mountain lion shifters whose instinct to mate with any available woman turns deadly.

Josh Woods is her client's eldest son, and he is immediately drawn to Mikaela. Knowing his father would never allow an available woman on the property, Josh doesn't understand his fascination with her. Josh and Mikaela fight their attraction because of their own secrets, but when the truth comes out about Mikaela's true availability and Josh's animal instincts, they must be prepared to face the consequences.

Wow! Mandy Harbin nailed it with this lovely short novella. For a short story it had a perfect amount of detail and back story. Not many short novellas have this. Once I started I could not put it down. Awesome characters that feel real they jump off the pages, you feel their pain and happiness. I love the world she built with sexy brothers who are Lion Mountain Shifters but keep to them selves. Their inner cat’s are itching to find an aviable mate that is unattached. This is why the father will only allow woman who are in a relationship in his home.

Mikaela just caught her fiancé in bed with another woman but has not told no one yet. Loved how Mandy Harbin does not dwell on Mikaela situation but gives just enough information to know what happened and how she feels about it. Her boss still thinks she is engage and sends her to the Woods house to fix some legal stuff for the father. She has no clue that they are Lion Mountain Shifters. I loved how she found out they were shifters as it was an intense moment but was not big on her reaction. She took it pretty easy. I found Mikaelas character sexy with her strong will attitude. She can not understand why she is starting to show feelings for a man she just met who at times just irritates her.

Loved Josh character right from the beginning with his arrogant attitude. He comes off strong right from the start with his cockiness. Even though he knows she has a fiancé, his inner cat is still dying to mate with Mikaela. He does not understand why this is happening but seems he can not stay away from her or keep his hands off her. Once he has a taste of her he starts getting possessive, jealous with an alpha male attitude. Loved how Mikaela has his stomach tied in knots and he looses a little bit of control of his inner cat. Loved how she had him pacing the floor while she went out to the bar. His sweet side was adorable. Loved he would stare at her almost every night at the dinner table and would not start eating till she started.

Their chemistry was hot right from the beginning. The sexual tension was steamy and the sex scenes made me want to take a cold shower after. Loved how Mikaela goes head to head with Josh. Never a dull moment with these two. They are sexy, fun and sweet together.

Loved all the brothers. All of them have their own personality. They were in the story just enough to where I want to know more about them. Never take away from Josh and Mikaela story just added so much more fun to it. The brotherly love his sweet and funny. I love how they have breakfast and dinner together every day. Loved how we got just enough back story on Eric from the father. Got my copy of his story Surrounded by Death: Woods Family Prequel for free with Amazon.

Got my copy Free from Amazon and so happy I read it as soon as I got it. Already bought my copy of Toby’s story Surrounded by Pleasure (Woods Family #2). Look forward to get back to the Woods brothers and see how Toby’s inner cat does with an unattached female. Do not know if the first in the Woods Family series is always free or just a limited time, but grab your copy now as it is a must read and great series not to be miss. Keeper for me as I will re-read in the future. Mandy Harbin is now a favorite author for me that I look forward to reading everything she has written and future novels.